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Schumer: People of Buffalo shouldn't be punished

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer says the Buffalo Billion investments, and their impact, should remain in Buffalo regardless of the outcome of the investigation surrounding them.

Schumer was speaking at an event Tuesday at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. He said that he believes that anyone who is convicted of wrongdoing should face consequences, but he said he will do everything in his power to make sure that the monies allocated to the Buffalo Billion are spent here.

"The people of Buffalo shouldn't be punished," Schumer said. "The money for all of the new types of things that are creating jobs and hope and resilience should stay."

Schumer also said he is committed to working with SolarCity to help the company thrive in Western New York.

The $750 million SolarCity Riverbend project is a big component of the Buffalo Billion investment, and 7 Eyewitness News recently learned that the SolarCity has been subpoenaed as part of the U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's investigation into contracts awarded under the Buffalo Billion.

This comes just after SolarCity reported a larger-than-expected quarterly loss of $2.56 per share to shareholders, despite help recent tax credit extension that incentives solar panel installation for homeowners and larger-than-expected quarterly revenues.